Former Limerick hurler Niall Moran says Cork's improvement at underage level and a new steely resolve bodes well for the Rebels, but thinks they are still a little short of winning an All-Ireland title in 2021.
With just half a dozen teams remaining in the championship, the Rebels take on Dublin this weekend for a place in an All-Ireland semi-final, following last weekend’s dramatic qualifier victory over Clare.
Having coughed up a second-half lead, Kieran Kingston’s men finished strong, only to see the Banner almost snatch victory at the death, with Patrick Collins forced into a point-blank save to deny Tony Kelly.
Limerick, who defeated Cork in the Munster Championship, remain red-hot favourites to claim Liam MacCarthy for a third time in four seasons, but the Ahane man says the Rebels are definitely moving in the right direction.
A minor All-Ireland has eluded them since 2001, but after successive All-Ireland final defeats at U-20 level in 2018 and 2019, Cork landed the big prize for 2020.
With the final delayed due to Covid, the final took place 10 days before the comeback victory over Tipperary in a Munster semi-final last week, blitzing the Premier County with a clinical second-half display.
That underage promise, coupled with a more resilient look to the senior team, has some questioning whether Kingston’s team may be the side best equipped to take down the champions.
"Cork are definitely coming with a strong team," Moran told RTÉ's Game On. "They were down by seven to Tipperary last week and came back to win by seven. Cork teams had not being doing that.
Are Cork coming with a team capable of winning an All-Ireland this year? I still don't think so.
"Against Clare last Saturday they were in control, then found themselves a point down and rallied, even without a man for a critical part.
"They are coming. Are they coming with a team capable of winning an All-Ireland this year? I still don’t think so, but they are starting to get their identity back, and that spells trouble for other counties."
